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donawalt's avatar
donawalt
Mentor
Jan 21, 2024

Router restart all of a sudden then problems

This is the second time this has happened to me...

Config - 1 RBR850, 2 RBS850's. All are on V7.2.6.21_5.0.20 firmware. No VPN, Armor, or Parental Controls activated. Modem is NG 2050V.

 

I have two switches attached to the router, the 2 RBSs are attached to a NG GS105A for backhaul. Other devices are attached to a NG GS348.

 

All of a sudden, sitting in one room near an RBS850, I notice it turns magenta. I go check the router, and it is restarting. It appeared it came up fine, and the 2 RBSs were online - devices were connecting via WiFi to the 2 RBSs and RBR just fine.

 

I don't know why it just random restarts! I captured the router debug screen image, but of course that was after the restart. I checked the router log and there is nothing but the restart entries and DHCP requests.

 

But in a couple of minutes, the Orbi app shows the router and Internet as Red - no internet.

 

So I decided to power cycle everything but the modem - as it appeared to be fine from the status lights. I did this:

 

Power down the two RBSs, then the 2 Switches, then the router. I waited 2 minutes. Powered up the router. From an iPhone 10' away, WiFi/internet is working fine.

 

Then I power up the switches. (They appear to be fine, as our laptops that are Eth-connected into switches work fine, and the 2 RBSs have hard wired backhaul and that works fine according to the Attached Devices list on the router web page.)

 

After the switches, I power up the 1st RBS - wait for blue light. Then I power the second RBS, wait for the blue light.

 

Once everything is up, I notice a laptop with only WiFi cannot connect. Another laptop on the 3rd floor is connected to the router in the basement, albeit with  mediocre signal. So I check the "Attached devices" list, and NOTHING in the house is WiFi connected to anything but the router! They are not connecting to either RBS!

 

What could be causing this? What steps should I take?

 

EDIT/ADDITION: Actually, when I check the detailed message on one Macbook, it says "Your Mac has successfully joined the WiFi network, but it cannot reach the Internet."

 

It suggests restarting modem and router - of course - but I;ll try that.

 

EDIT/ADDITION 2: I powered down the RBR, then the modem, ONLY. I waited a minute, powered up the cable modem, when it was up, powered up the router. In a couple of minutes, everything looks fine again, devices are connecting to the RBSs as well as the RBR.

 

So in summary:

1) Router randomly reboots. Everything comes up fine briefly, then WiFi internet is lost but not Ethernet.

2) Power cycling everything (but modem) down and then back up, in recommended sequence, results in nothing connecting to the RBSs - although the Mac says devices are connected to WiFi but there is no Internet.

3) One more powercycle of router and modem, then things seem to be fine. Nothing but restart messages on the modem logs either.

 

So why does the network WiFi break down when the router reboots, and why does it reboot on its own?

 

19 Replies


  • donawalt wrote:

    This is the second time this has happened to me...

    Config - 1 RBR850, 2 RBS850's. All are on V7.2.6.21_5.0.20 firmware. No VPN, Armor, or Parental Controls activated. Modem is NG 2050V.

     

    I have two switches attached to the router, the 2 RBSs are attached to a NG GS105A for backhaul. Other devices are attached to a NG GS348.

     

    All of a sudden, sitting in one room near an RBS850, I notice it turns magenta. I go check the router, and it is restarting. It appeared it came up fine, and the 2 RBSs were online - devices were connecting via WiFi to the 2 RBSs and RBR just fine.

     

    I don't know why it just random restarts! I captured the router debug screen image, but of course that was after the restart. I checked the router log and there is nothing but the restart entries and DHCP requests.

     

    But in a couple of minutes, the Orbi app shows the router and Internet as Red - no internet.

     

    So I decided to power cycle everything but the modem - as it appeared to be fine from the status lights. I did this:

    Is recommended that when you power down everything, this should include the ISP modem as well. 

     

    Power down the two RBSs, then the 2 Switches, then the router. I waited 2 minutes. Powered up the router. From an iPhone 10' away, WiFi/internet is working fine.

     

    Then I power up the switches. (They appear to be fine, as our laptops that are Eth-connected into switches work fine, and the 2 RBSs have hard wired backhaul and that works fine according to the Attached Devices list on the router web page.)

     

    After the switches, I power up the 1st RBS - wait for blue light. Then I power the second RBS, wait for the blue light.

     

    Once everything is up, I notice a laptop with only WiFi cannot connect. Another laptop on the 3rd floor is connected to the router in the basement, albeit with  mediocre signal. So I check the "Attached devices" list, and NOTHING in the house is WiFi connected to anything but the router! They are not connecting to either RBS!

     

    What could be causing this? What steps should I take?

     

    EDIT/ADDITION: Actually, when I check the detailed message on one Macbook, it says "Your Mac has successfully joined the WiFi network, but it cannot reach the Internet."

     

    It suggests restarting modem and router - of course - but I;ll try that.

     

    EDIT/ADDITION 2: I powered down the RBR, then the modem, ONLY. I waited a minute, powered up the cable modem, when it was up, powered up the router. In a couple of minutes, everything looks fine again, devices are connecting to the RBSs as well as the RBR.

    It's commended that when you power down the RBR and ISP Modem, include the RBS as well. 

     

    So in summary:

    1) Router randomly reboots. Everything comes up fine briefly, then WiFi internet is lost but not Ethernet.

    2) Power cycling everything (but modem) down and then back up, in recommended sequence, results in nothing connecting to the RBSs - although the Mac says devices are connected to WiFi but there is no Internet.

    3) One more powercycle of router and modem, then things seem to be fine. Nothing but restart messages on the modem logs either.

     

    So why does the network WiFi break down when the router reboots, and why does it reboot on its own?

    What CAT# LAN cable do you have between the CM modem and RBR? 

    Did the front LED on the RBR turn PINK when this happened? 

    What channels is the RBR configured for currently? 

    Be aware that your ISP may have been doing some odd maintenance or configurations as CC/XF are in the midst of adding new high speed support and equipment to there sevices so possible something could have happened here. 

    Something you might enabled to see if this helps maybe stop this randsom reboot of the RBR:

    https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi-WIFI-6-AX-AND-Wi-Fi-6E-AXE/Enable-Email-Logging-and-Router-Reboots/m-p/2231485?search-action-id=330000759761&search-result-uid=2231485

     


     

    • donawalt's avatar
      donawalt
      Mentor

      Yeah it does seem I have to power cycle EVERYTHING in the recommended sequence if I power down anything. That doesn't answer why it rebooted on its own though.

       

      To answer your other questions:

      1- cable between RBR and modem is Cat 6e

      2- don't know if the RBR lights went pink - by the time I realized the RBR was restarting and I got down there it was finished the reboot and from lights were out.

      3- RBR channels - .4 GHz - Auto, 5 GHz is 48 GHz

      4- I was thinking it could have been something outside, but the modem logs were totally clean - no errors, T3, T4, word CM_STATUS messages, etc.

      5- I do have the logs emailed every Sat at 5 AM - worst great. This last happened about 2 weeks ago, so not that frequent.

      • FURRYe38's avatar
        FURRYe38
        Guru

        donawalt wrote:

        Yeah it does seem I have to power cycle EVERYTHING in the recommended sequence if I power down anything. That doesn't answer why it rebooted on its own though.

         

        To answer your other questions:

        1- cable between RBR and modem is Cat 6e

        Do you mean CAT5E? There is no such thing as CAT6E, there is CAT6 and CAT6A which is STP and would be recommended. 

        2- don't know if the RBR lights went pink - by the time I realized the RBR was restarting and I got down there it was finished the reboot and from lights were out.

        Check the uptime of the RBR on the WEB web page under Advanced Tab/Internet/Show Stats or on the routers debug.htm page. Try to check the RBR first next time you see this. Would need to know if Front LED shows anything.

        3- RBR channels - .4 GHz - Auto, 5 GHz is 48 GHz

        Lets try manual channel 1 and 40 if you don't have any neighbors.

        4- I was thinking it could have been something outside, but the modem logs were totally clean - no errors, T3, T4, word CM_STATUS messages, etc.

        Any Criticals or Warnings seen here? 

        5- I do have the logs emailed every Sat at 5 AM - worst great. This last happened about 2 weeks ago, so not that frequent. Might try to keep track of this. Each time it happens. So longest uptime is about two weeks?